Reviewing Random Films For Fun

April 17, 2015

The Graduate #MovieReview

Film 162 in the “1001 Films to See Before You Die” challenge is 1967’s “The Graduate”. This Mike Nichols romantic comedy is based on Charlie Webb’s novel of the same name and tells the story about a recent college graduate with no well-defined aim in life, who is seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), and then proceeds to fall in love with her daughter Elaine. And after watching six terrible films in a row, I really needed something to cheer me up. That and I wanted to listen to Simon and Garfunkel records. This is a fantastic film which has everything could ask for. Love, betrayal, loveable/hate-able characters, memorable scenes and a soundtrack that still holds up after 48 years. I really enjoyed the final scenes at the wedding. I laughed out loud when Ben locked everyone in the church. I don’t know why but I found that really funny. Also, who hasn’t sung the lyrics to “The Sound of Silence” or “Mrs Robinson” while watching this? If this film has taught me anything, its that you shouldn’t let your parents pick who you should marry and make your own choices. This is a film that I would defiantly recommend. In 2010, The New Yorker had this to say about the film, “Hoffman’s virginal panic when the leggy Anne Bancroft…. bullies him into bed is… almost Harold Lloyd-like in its portrayal of courage barely conquering fear of the unknown”. I found myself relating to Ben at the start of the film. Both of us have graduated and don’t really know what to do next in life? Do you pursue your dreams? Fun Fact of the Film – Despite their on-screen age difference there were only six years between Hoffman and Bancroft in real life”. If you have seen this film, then let me know what you thought of it in the comments. Here is what I had to say while watching 1967’s “The Graduate”.

Film – The Graduate

Year – 1967

Director – Mike Nichols

Written by – Calder Willingham, Buck Henry

Staring – Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross

IMDb Rating – 8.1/10

My Rating – 8.4/10

Length – 101 min (1h 41min)

Genre – Comedy, Drama, Romance

Welcome to Los Angeles International Airport

And the first of many Simon & Garfunkel songs play – “The Sound of Silence”

I never have been a fan of Panovision – You can barely see anything

Ben meets with his dad to talk about his future

That fish tank is louder than Dustin Hoffman

At the graduation party, everyone keeps asking about Ben’s future

Someone offers Ben a job in “Plastics”

It’s pretty clear that Ben doesn’t want to be there

You’re my only friend fish

Mrs Robinson confuses Ben’s bedroom for a bathroom

Don’t mind me putting cigarette ash all over your bed

Don’t you hate it when your car keys get lost in the fish tank

We’re here now get off of my car!

I ain’t letting you leave until my husband gets home… Drink?

You’re an alcoholic? I’m leaving!

She really doesn’t want Ben to leave

Close your legs you dirty slut

“Mrs Robinson you’re trying to seduce me”

This is my daughter’s room! Let’s have sex in it

How bad are those tan lines?

All I want to do is go home and listen to Elvis records

Oh God! You’re nude!

What are they flashing to?

Mr Robinson comes home from a game of golf to find Ben at the bar

It’s nice that The Robinsons label their drinks

“You’ll never be young again”

Mr Robinson talks to Ben about some of his memories about him

Just let me leave!

Ben isn’t a ladies man! – He’s just like me

At Ben’s 21st birthday

Ben’s dad wants Ben to show off his $200 scuba gear

His breathing is so loud he can’t hear what anyone is saying

Go for a swim in the pool while we watch

So… They’re making Ben celebrate his 21st by sitting at the bottom of a swimming pool

Ben rings Mrs Robinson for drinks at a hotel

Sir, the queue is over there

Better attend this party that I’m not invited to

I know my drink has a straw but I don’t like using them

Let’s have a chat in a hotel room that we haven’t booked

If getting a hotel room was that easy I would travel more often

My luggage is just a toothbrush

I’ll go up first and you come up five minutes later

I’m safe! No one is in my hotel room

If you’re planning on having sex, always close all windows, curtains and blinds

Don’t kiss me when I have a mouth full of smoke

Straight in for a boob drag

I would have sex with you but I can’t! Excuse me while I bang my head against the wall

Let’s do something else together!

Mrs Robinson just called Ben a virgin

“The Sound of Silence” plays again – Not the type of song you can have sex to

Nothing like lying in the sun drinking beers by the pool

He got dry very quickly

I was just having sex and now I’m back home in the living room

Nothing says “sex was good” like a cigarette

I can’t make out the name of the song

Ben’s dad tells Ben off for not considering Graduation School

Mr Robinson suggests Ben meet with his daughter, Elaine, when she’s in town

Why is the bathroom very steamy if all he’s doing is shaving?

Don’t you hate it when you cut yourself shaving?

Let’s not have sex anymore! Let’s chat about art

Scrap that, let’s talk about Mr Robinson

They’re married but sleep in seperate bedrooms?!?

She tells Ben that she married Mr Robinson because she got pregnant

Ben asks her what car she got pregnant in a Ford

She then tells Ben not to see Elaine because she thinks he’s not good enough for her

Let’s both apologise to each other and pretend this never happened

He promises that he won’t go on a date with Elaine so he can continue having sex with Mrs Robinson

So.. Mr Robinson wants Ben to see Elaine but Mrs Robinson doesn’t want Ben to see her

Excuse me while I drown myself

Ben decdes to go ignore Mrs Robinson and is taking Elaine out

Who cares about traffic jams when we can drive like a lunatic

Slow down you’re walking to fast! You know I can run in high heels

Out of all the places to take a date, you take her to a strip club

Out come the nipple tassles!

Can you stop waving your boobs at me?

Ben tells Elaine that this was all his parents idea to go on the date

One kiss later and the two are back in love

All you need is a drive-by dinner with a group of bikers

“I could make you some cofffee” – That’s the first sign that someone wants sex